Are you curious about those orange bikes you’ve seen all over the city? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a cheap and fun way to see Rio de Janeiro. In this post, we’ll go over how to easily rent city bikes in Rio – especially if you’re a traveler.
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Did you know Rio has over 270 mi (435 km) of bike lanes, making it one of the friendliest biking cities in South America? Because of this, it is also the best way for travelers to explore the city freely and cheaply.
There seems to be some confusion about whether or not foreigners can register and rent bikes through the app. I am here to tell you that as of 2023, you 100% can! I did it in September and it was super easy.
So if you are a foreigner traveling to Brazil who wants to cycle around this beautiful city, keep reading to learn about how to rent city bikes in Rio de Janeiro!
About Cycling in Rio
One of the first things you might notice when you get to Rio, besides the incredible landscape, is how many designated bike lanes and bikers there are. You may also notice these orange bike stations all over the city.
Rio’s bike-share is known as Bike Itaú and it’s super easy to use and can cost less than $1 USD a trip. The great thing about Rio is despite its mountainous topography, the roads are pretty flat which makes biking easy even for beginners.
While the bike lanes do follow the flow of traffic in some places, in other places, you’re more secluded. This makes exploring and enjoying the scenery that much more beautiful. Not to mention you can also bike up and down right along Copacabana Beach.
Bike Itaú also has the option of renting electric bikes as well as standard bikes so you have an option for whichever mood you’re in!
City Bikes for Foreigners/Travelers
There seems to be outdated information on some blog posts about city bikes in Rio that states foreigners cannot register through the app. This may have been true at one point but not anymore!
I visited Rio in September of 2023 and had no issues registering and renting the city bikes. So fear not and keep reading to find out just how easy it is.
I did want to quickly mention here that if for whatever reason you are having a hard time registering on the app, there are self-service stations you can go to in person. You only need a credit card to get started and can skip using the app.
However, I would leave this option as a last resort as I think it would be more complicated to rent without tracking your ride through the app. Just in case, here is a list of those in-person self-service stations.
How To Rent City Bikes in Rio
Download the App & Register
Firstly, you’ll need to download the Bike Itau app. Here it is in the Apple Store and Google Play.
Secondly, you’ll have to register and make an account. Once you enter your email address, it’ll prompt you to register with a personal document. Here is where you will see options for Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.
At the bottom, there is an option for ‘other countries‘ where you will need to enter your passport information.
Select your nationality and enter all of your information. There is a section for a verification code which is meant to be the number that appears before the abbreviation of your country at the bottom of your passport.
However, my US passport did not have one. I’m not sure if it was just mine or if all US passports are like this. The verification code is only one digit so I just entered numbers 1 – 9 until one worked for me. Number 5 seemed to do the trick and I was able to make an account.
Next, you’ll have to enter your phone number. Keep in mind, they will send you a code to verify your account so make sure you have access to it. I had a Brazilian SIM card and number so I had no issue with this.
One of my friends at my hostel was not receiving her code so we ended up asking a local Brazilian that we made friends with if we could use his number to verify her account. This totally worked so maybe keep this in mind if you’re having trouble with this step!
Choose a Plan
After you make an account, you’ll have to choose a plan and pay before you can rent and ride. There are 4 plans you can choose from. However, as a traveler, you’ll likely only choose from the first two options.
- Short Term (for those who want to get to know the city)
- Single Trip: pay per trip up to 15 minutes by electric or regular bike. Cost: 5.90 Reais ($1.20 USD)
- 2-Day Pass: unlimited trips within a 48-hour period for up to 2 hours each trip. Cost: 25.90 Reais ($5.32 USD)
- Long Term (for those who bike as part of their daily routine)
- Monthly: pay per month. 45-minute trips up to 4 times a day. Cost: 39.90 Reais ($8.20 USD)
- Yearly: pay annually. 45-minute trips up to 4 times a day. Cost: 159.90 Reais ($32.80 USD)
As you can see, renting city bikes in Rio is super affordable. Unless you are staying for several weeks, your best option is going to be a 2-day plan. This is the plan I chose and I didn’t have to worry about only riding for 15 minutes at a time.
Beware that they do charge you a little extra per minute you go over if you choose to just pay per trip. However, for less than $6 USD, it’s completely worth it to buy the 48-hour pass.
Find Bike Stations & How to Release Bikes
Once you choose your plan and pay, you’re all ready to go. The app makes it super easy to navigate the city and locate the stations. There are over 390 bikes available in Rio and dozens of bike stations to pick up or drop off in.
Using the app you can easily find a station near you and you can even check how many bikes are available at each one. Once you find a station and are ready to rent a bike, you just scan the QR code and unlock the bike.
If you’ve ever rented electric scooters, the process is very similar. However, I had a hard time removing the bike the first time I did it and had to ask a local for help.
You might need to pick up the back tire and lift up to get the front tire to unlock. Once you get it, you’ll understand but don’t hesitate to ask for help. Brazilians are friendly and willing to help from my experience!
How to Return Bikes
The app easily tracks your trips so you know just how long you’ve had the bike for. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on this so you don’t go over your time.
Once you are ready to return the bike, you can search for nearby stations. You’ll notice the app will let you know how many available docks there are so you can be sure there is room to drop off.
Make sure to double-check the bike has been locked and returned before you leave it. Your trip should say ended on the app once you’ve successfully returned it!
Ta-da! Renting city bikes in Rio is as easy as that! The trickiest part will be setting up your account honestly. However, if that goes smoothly then you should have no problems and be able to enjoy Rio the way it was meant to be experienced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro bike-friendly?
Rio de Janeiro is one of the friendliest biking cities in South America. Rio has over 270 mi (435 km) of biking lanes all along the waterfront and connected throughout the city. They also have over 4,000 rental city bikes at over 350 stations.
How do I use my Itau bike in Rio?
Using Bike Itaú in Rio is super simple and easy. First, download the app, register, and pick a plan. Then you can start riding one of the thousands of bikes all over the city. You easily scan the QR code on the bike and track your time through the app. Then you can return it when you’re done at one of the 350 bike stations.
Can foreigners rent city bikes in Rio?
As of September 2023, foreigners can easily rent city bikes in Rio! Just download the app, register with your passport number, then pick a plan and you’re ready to start riding.
For more helpful posts on Brazil, you may also like:
- Copacabana Beach: What It’s Like Visiting Rio’s Famous Shore
- The Best & Tastiest VEGAN Feijoada in Rio de Janeiro!
- 5 Stunning Reasons You Need To Do a Helicopter Tour in Rio de Janeiro
